Japanese inventors have come up with a new device that blends Japan’s fascination with cuteness and its penchant for experimental high tech gadgets. The gizmo is called Necomimi, neco meaning cat and mimi meaning ears in Japanese. The gadget is fluffy cat’s ears for humans that read their brainwaves. The fluffy headwear reads user’s brain activity, meaning the ears perk up when they concentrate and flop down when users enter a relaxed state of mind. A promotional video for the gadget shows a young woman’s cat ears perk up as she bites into a donut and again when she passes a young man in a park, only to flatten as she apparently brushes off the missed encounter, relaxes and smiles.
The inventors said “We were exploring new ways of communicating and we thought it would be interesting to use brainwaves.” “Because the sensors must be attached to the head, we tried to come up with something cute and catchy.”
The company behind the product, Neurowear hopes to market the device by the end of the year.
What do you think?
Watch the video for Necomimi below
Read more about some of the lighter and more interesting stories about Japan at Only in Japan
Recently I wrote a post about the new Nintendo due to make its debut at the E3 games show in Los Angeles on June 7th. You can read the post here
The new Nintendo made its debut and is a game changer. Nintendo took the wraps off its newest game console which will be the successor to the popular Wii. The new console called the Wii U offers HD graphics capabilities as well as a new controller with a 6.2 inch touchscreen. The new controller has got the full traditional Nintendo stick and button controls on either side of the screen, triggers on the back, a microphone, speakers and an inward facing camera. The controller can be used to play a game on the TV, or play a game portably by itself without using the TV at all.
The new Wii U will be compatible with all other Wii accessories including the Balance Board as well as the Remote and Nunchuk, but will also use the new controller.
The new Wii will be available from next year. I cannot personally wait for it to arrive.
Did you know that Miso Soup is really healthy for you? Studies are confirming that Miso Soup possesses numerous health promoting benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and protective fatty acids, and loaded with healthy doses of manganese, zinc and copper. It also contains isoflavone that may have protective effects against some cancers.
New studies are also confirming that consuming Miso Soup can be an effective component in weight control. It works by reducing the accumulation of fat in the body.
Science is just now only beginning to uncover the tremendous health and wellness potential of this magnificent soup.
Oyako-don is a popular Japanese dish that can be found at home or in a restaurant. Oyako means parent and child in Japanese so both the chicken and egg are used in this famous Japanese dish.
Serves 2
Ingredients
• 150g chicken breast
• 1 tbsp mirin
• a few drops vegetable oil
• 1 brown onion, sliced
• 1 spring onion, sliced diagonally
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 bowls cooked rice
1. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and marinate with mirin.
2. Make the dashi mixture by heating soy sauce, caster sugar, sake and dashi in a saucepan, set aside.
3. Pour a little of the oil in a frying pan and stir-fry chicken until cooked through.
4. Add onion and stir until lightly brown. Add spring onion and cook for a further minute.
5. Add dashi mixture and bring to the boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
6. Pour beaten eggs over the simmering mixture. Set over low heat until the egg is just cooked.
7. Place a portion of the hot rice into each bowl and slide half of the chicken and egg topping over the rice in each bowl.
Note:
• For a slight variation you can top with either tempura or pork cutlet
Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato is a great self-teaching guide for learning Japanese. It is great for beginners to the language as well as challenging enough for the more experienced learner.
It begins with a review of Japanese writing systems, basic pronunciation, and everyday expressions. The book covers key grammar fundamentals such as particles, nouns, verb forms and honorifics. It will help you build your vocabulary with essential words and phrases. You can even test yourself at the end of every chapter for reinforcement. It allows you to learn at your own pace and build the fundamentals to effectively learn Japanese.
Here are a few of the important things that I really like about this book
Clear and straightforward explanations
Lots of great examples
Covers hiragana, katakana and kanji with phonetic transliterations
Covers everyday topics as well as conversational expressions
Quizzes help you to reinforce the language and new material
Onigiri Senbei is a Japanese rice cracker that is shaped in a triangle like a Japanese onigiri. It is a tasty snack seasoned with soy sauce, sugar and nori (seaweed). It is one of the most popular rice crackers in Japan, and is so crunchy and crispy that it is addictive and you can’t stop eating them.
I highly recommend you try the classic Onigiri Senbei.
Here are a few pictures of the yummy snack.
Check out some other Japanese Snacks in this series below
Japanese video game giant Nintendo has confirmed it will introduce a new games machine next year. At this stage no details of the new system have been released, but many believe it will offer hi-definition graphics and specs superior to arch-rivals Xbox 360 and PS3.
The Nintendo project dubbed “Project Café” is rumoured to include a controller with built in touch-screen.
All should be revealed at the giant E3 games show in Los Angeles on June 7 and should ignite a new round in the video game wars with its rivals.
The news comes as Nintendo’s all-conquering games console the Wii is starting to show its age. It was a game changer when released in 2006, and turned the gaming world on its head with the introduction of motion-sensing wireless gaming. The move also forced its rivals to develop motion-sensing technology of their own just released recently. A recent dip in sales for the Wii against Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Kinect and Sony’s PS3 has led to the new development.
